Selvaratnam newcomer takes on racing might of UAE

Former champion trainer Dhruba Selvaratnam has few peers when it comes to laying a horse out for a specific race. Today the master from the Jebel Ali Stables introduces an interesting newcomer for the Dhs 120,000 Churchill Stakes, the feature event of tonight's potentially thrilling eight-race card.

Racing starts at 9pm. Dehoush, a nicely bred four-year-old owned by Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, makes a much-anticipated debut in the conditions race over six furlongs on turf, which has attracted a competitive field of eight runners including recent winners Mile High and Mutamayyaz.

The four-year-old son of Diesis who won his maiden at Newmarket in June 98, carried over his good form to the next season where he won a handicap at Kempton before just finishing a shorthead second to recent Emirates World Series champion Fantastic Light in the Thresher Classic Trial Stakes at Sandown in April.

Dehoush made a strong start in his 2000 campaign with a convincing win over Compton Ace at Newbury but was only placed once in three subsequent starts before travelling to the UAE.

Going by his past record Dehoush clearly runs well when fresh and should make a big impression in today's race. But he will take all the beating considering the depth of the field.

Undoubtedly the favourites are the three form horses, Mile High and Mutamayyaz from Paddy Rudkin's stables and Kiaran Mclaughlin's seasoned sprinter Kharir. The highest rated horse in the field is Erwan Charpy's Holy Pole, who has been switched from Saeed bin Suroor's Al Quoz yard.

Mile High appears to have rediscovered his best form, going by his emphatic 7L victory over this course and distance two weeks ago, while Mutamayyaz was perhaps even more convincing when beating champion sprinter Ramp And Rave. Kharir, the third horse in the jigsaw, was a trifle unlucky in his seasonly debut at Jebel Ali when he was beaten a shorthead by Moonis. He will have come on for that effort.

It will be interesting to see how the newcomer Dehoush copes with these top UAE sprinters and whether form or rating will prevail.

Though only six runners have accepted for the Curragh Stakes, a mile and a quarter handicap for horses rated 0-100, the race promises to be closely fought.

Opera King, who finished a noteworthy third behind Ten Kingdoms on his seasonal debut, looks the pick of the lot, though Australian-bred Seasquill showed vast improvement from his earlier form when a respectable second to runaway winner Paris Sport over today's trip.

Ariant, could pose a threat to Charpy's Opera King, having already tasted victory this season when beating Fire Thunder at Nad Al Sheba. In his subsequent start over a mile the Rudkin-trained four-year-old finished second to Superiority.

Selvaratnam can land the night's opening race, the Happy Valley Stakes for maidens, with last outing second Nasheyt, while champion trainer Satish Seemar could pick up wins with Cable Media Boy and Girllon.